The diamond drill., 1887-10-08
ANGUS GRAND0N.

ana park or GranuOn McadOWS. she
was middle.aged woman and still
handsome, and for fifteen years had
been housekeepcr to the Grandons.
She had been waiting for the return
of her young master now, and soon
the juggling OF sleighbells is heard and
a young man enters the library.
"YOu have been TO see Victoria,
Angus" she asks.
'Yes." throwing himself into a
chair. and still smoking.
Angus fifteen years give me the
right to speak TO you contidentially,"
she faltered out.
Angus Grandon points out the low
window.
You have the right to speak, but
look there"
A tall, slender girl Is coming swiftly
across the snow-covered lawn. A
beautiful brunette. whose superb olive
face is beautifully colored by the
frosty air
"How beautiful she is?" exclaimed
Mary Shakespeare with an accent of
despair. Her eyes met those Of Angus
Grandon, and she knows there is no
hope for her in persuading him TO
give up Victoria Delevan. IL might
warn her, she murmurs.
And break your promises" he cries
with soorn.
al know have promised Yet il |
broke II fear it would do no good"
she says sadly.
"Yon are right" he smiles.
Better great deal for both OF you
If she should marry Arthur AnnerIy
Oh, Angus before It is too late"
He rose and stood on the hearthrug
with his hands behind him.
MARY" he said. "if there ever was
an angel In the body, You are one. DO
YOU suppose | think myself worthy
of your fricndshipS Not in the least.
But know my own needs and come
what may. shall make Victoria Dele
van my wife. No appeal will move
me, turning away.
He walked from the room.
As the door closed behind him Mary
threw herself upon the sofa
"After all these years." she cried |
despalringly
oh, it seemed ages ago that Angus
Grandon, at oDc.and twenty, had been |
doomed % eventual insanity by the |
family physician, who knew so fatally |
well the hereditary tcndencyt They |
were lovers, then, these two, though |
she was few years the elder, and all |
their plans for the future were stopped
AL the gravity Of the situation.
with is remote consequences, was con
sidereG, and u decision arrived at.
Apparently true in feeling, and |
aided by Mary's unusual Judgment.
Angus Grandon announced his de.
cision never TO marry and hand down
To helpless generations the hapless
inilrmity of his ancestors: but they
loved each other, and il was not MARY
Shakespeare's nature to love him less
because she could not marry him.
Victoria Deleyan came She was
beautiful. willfui, ambitious; she liked
Angus admiration. and he threw of
Mary's restraint. made love to her, aud
asked her TO mary him.
What Mary Shakespeare had suf-
fered in the last six months only she
could tell.
Perhaps circumstances would aver,
the catastrophe.
But after the conversation which
occurred on that sunday, Mary could
have unfailingIy predicted the end.
She appealed 60 Victory, il is true,
with faint hope.
For young Annerly's sake she made
the appeal, she told the girl-he was
SO noble. SO good. so honorable in in.
tention, and her unfaithfulness would
break his heart, she feared, after his
long year OF hope.
But be is poor replied the hand
some girl. Everybody pleads for Ar
thur Annerly; but love luxury and
elegance, and | shalt marry Angus
Grandon"
Victoria Delcvan with her naughty
stature and assured air, did not seem
To demand pity; but Marys heart
melted to pity within her as she sur.
yeyed the proud girl, for she had yet
to learn tho lesson Of suffering. For
herself she seemed 10 have worn suf.
fering out.
She had not broken her promise, vet
she had tried every measure she deem.
eel could avail, and she quietly acqui.
eced In the state of things; and
when the wedding took place, aud An
gus brought his bride TO Grandon
Meadows. she pleaded broken health
and accepted sisters invitation 60
spenc the winter with her.